Heating device



July 27, 19 3-. J. L. ANDREWS HEATING DEVICE Filed April 10, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 w e@ r. 8

t n m t w s B o Jm July 27, 1943 ANDR W 2,325,358

HEATING DEVIC E Filed April 10, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor: John Lewis Andrews,

.3 Hi5 Attorney.

Patented July 27, 1943 HEATIN G DEVICE John Lewis Andrews, Elmwood Park, Ill., assignor to Edison General Electric Appliance Company, Inc., a corporation of New York Application April 10, 1941, Serial No. 387,837

Claims.

This invention relates to heating devices, more particularly to heating devices provided with hot plates, such as a range, and it has for its object the provision of an improved device of this character which has a simple, durable and inexpensive construction, and which is constructed and arranged to facilitate the cleaning of the various elements of which the plate is made.

In one form of this invention, the range is provided with a top wall defining a cooking surface or area that has an opening for receiving a hot plate. The hot plate has a heat generating element, and a support for the heat generating element that is arranged to hold it in its cooking position in the opening in the cooking surface. Under the heat generating element is a reflector pan which is provided with a depressed seat for receiving the support provided'for the heat generating element. The reflector is also provided with a part which engages a part of the range top so as to hold the support and the heat generating element in their proper operative positions in the opening. More specifically, the range top is provided with a depressed seat in the opening,

and the reflector is provided'with a down-turned flange that is adapted to rest on the seat to properly support the heat generating element within the opening.

The heat generating element is provided with down-turned terminal ends which are directed through an opening provided for them in the reflector. These down-turned ends are rigidly secured to a hinge member which is pivoted to the outer surface of the reflector whereby the heating element and its support can be pivoted up and down with reference to the reflector so that these elements can be readily cleaned.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of an electric heating device embodying this invention, parts being shown in section and parts broken away so as to illustrate certain details of construction; Fig. '2 is a vertical sectional-view taken through the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 2, but

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken through V the line 6-6 of Fig. 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 6, but illustrating the heating element in a different operative position; and Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken through a part of the device shown in Fig. 6.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1-4 inelusive, this invention has been shown in one form as applied to an electric range provided with a hot plate having an electric sheathed heat generating element. As shown, the range comprises a top wall or heating surface l0 which is provided with a circular opening II that is adapted to receive the heating unit l2.

The heating unit l2 comprises a pair of spirally Wound,- interlocked heat generating elements l3 and I4 lying in a common plane that is substantially'parallel to the top wall of the range. Preferably, each of these elements will be provided with a coiled resistance conductor I5 housed in a metallic sheath I6, and embedded in and supported in spaced relation with reference to the sheath l6 by a highly compacted mass ll formed of a suitable, heat conducting, electrically insulating material, such as magnesium oxide.

The heating elements are supported by a suitable grid l8 which is formed of metallic strips I9, 20 and 2|. The strips 20 and 2| are arranged generally at right angies'to the strip l9, and are oifset somewhat from each other, as shown. The upper surfaces of the grid arms I9, 20 and 2| are provided with notches 22 which receive the turns of the heating elements 13 and H; the upper edges 23 of these notches 22 are peened over so as to rigidly secure the turns to the arms. The outer ends of the grid arms I9, 20 and 2| are received in slots provided for them in a suitable supporting ring 24.

The terminal ends I30. and Ma of the two heating elements respectively are turned downwardly from the plane of the, heating elements, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and projecting from these terminal ends of the two heaters respectively are terminals 25 and 28. It will be observed that the terminal ends I3a and Ma are spaced apart and are arranged in substantial alignment along 'ing 50.

circular flange 39 at the outer edge of the seat; also, it comprises a substantially horizontal flat ring-like flange 3i which projects outwardly from the section 30, and at the outer periphery of this flat section there is a circular depending flange 32.

The downwardly extending flange 32 is constructed and arrangedto be supported by means of a depressed seat 35 formed on the top wall I and within the opening H, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. When the flange is resting on the seat 35, and the ring 24 with its heat generating elements resting on their seat 29 in the reflector, the upper surfaces of the heat generating elements are somewhat above the upper surface of the range it] so as to present a heating surface for cooking vessels.

'I'he'reflector bowl 28 is provided with an elongated opening 36 in its bottom wall through which the aligned terminal ends tin. and Ma pass to the under side of the reflector. Under this reflector is. a suitable terminal housing 35, the top wall of which is provided with spaced apertures 36 for receiving the down-turned terminal ends. This top wall is rigidly secured to the terminal ends in any suitable manner, as by means of staking, welding or brazing. Mounted the terminals 25 and 28 with a suitable electrical supply source.

The terminal housing is pivotally connected to the outer surface of the bowl 28 by means of a hinge arm M which is rigidly secured to the housing 35 in any suitable manner, as by weldin a hinge arm 52 rigidly secured in a similar manner to the outer surface of the reflector; and a hinge pin 53 pivotally connecting the two, hinge arms together, It will be understood that this hinge means provides for pivotal movement of the heating elements and their supporting ring 241 upwardly and downwardly with reference to the reflector, whereby the heating butt contacts 51 on their outer ends. These butt contacts are arranged to engage electrical supply contacts 58 when. the heating unit is in its operative position, as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 8. The contacts 58 are mounted within a suitable electrically insulating fixed housing 59, andare resiliently biased toward the right, as viewed in Figs. 6 and 8, by means of compression springs 60. The ends of these contacts project outwardly through openings provided for them in the housing 59 and are provided with binding nuts 6i whereby the electrical supply connections may be made with them.

As long as the heating element is in its operative position of Figs. 5, 6 and 8, the contacts 51 engage the contacts58 so that an electrical circuit can be established through the heat generating elements. However, when the heating elements are swung upwardly from their operative position to their elevated position of Fig. '7, the contacts 51 move away from the contacts 58 so as to positively break the electrical supply circuit to the heating elements.

The casing 50 may be open at the bottom, if

desired, because when the plate is elevated, the

terminals are deenerg'ized.

While I have shown particular embodiments of my invention, it willbe understood, of course,

that I do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and I, therefore, contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fallwithinthe true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An electric heating unit for an electric range provided with an opening in its top wall for reelements and the reflector may be cleaned. It

will also be understood that the opening 3d will be so proportioned that the housing 35 may be moved freely upwardly and downwardly through the bottom of the bowl 28.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 5-8, inclusive, the heating elements id and 55 are mounted on a grid 46 which in turn is seceiving the unit comprising a unitar reflector constructed andarranged to be inserted in said opening having a bottom reflecting wall and also having a part for-engaging a part of said top wall so as to support said reflector within said opening, a sheathed heat generating element, a support for said heat generating element constructed and arranged torest upon said reflector, a hinge connection means between said heat generating element and the outer surface of said reflector having one element, means mounting said one element on said outer surface of said reflector, a second element located below the bottom of said reflector, connection means extending upwardly through the bottom'of said reflector and connecting said second element with said heating element, and means pivotally connecting said two elements together so that said heating element can be swung upwardly away cured to a ring 57; This ring all is mounted in a reflector 46 which in turn is supported in a seat 490 in the range top 49. The heating elements are provided with down-turned terminal ends a and 450 respectively. A terminal housing 58 is secured to these down-turned ends below the provided with an elongated opening 55 in its bot- I tom through which the casing 55 may pass when the heating unit is pivoted with reference to the reflector. The elements of Figs. 5-8 thus far described are substantially the same as thecorresponding elements shown in Figs. 1-4.

Here, however, the connector members 56 carry spaced-apart terminal ends, a grid supporting from said reflector and downwardly to return it to said reflector, and said reflector having an opening in its bottom through which said connection means and second element of aid hinge means move up and down as said heating element is swung upward and downward with reference to the reflector. r

2. An electric heating unit for an electric range provided with an opening in'its top wall for receiving the unit comprising a pair of interlocked spiral heating elements having down-turned said heating elements, a ring attached to said grid, 2, reflector pan having side and bottom reflecting walls and also a wall at the top for engaging said top wall to support said reflector within said-opening, said reflector being provided with a seat between its said wall at the top and said side and bottom walls for receiving said ring, and also having an opening in said side and bottom walls through which said terminal ends are directed, and means pivotally mounting said terminal ends so that said heating elements and their ring can be pivoted upwardly and do:- nwardly with reference to said reflector, said opening in said side and bottom walls provided for free unobstructed movement of said terminal ends upwardly and downwardly through said re flector.

3. An electricheating unit for an electric range provided with an opening in its top wall for receiving the unit comprising a heat generating e ement having down-turned aligned terminal ends spaced apart crosswise below said unit, a ring supporting said heating element, a reflector pan having a seat formed therein for receiving said ring and a flange for engaging a part of said top wall to support said heat generating element within said elongated opening, and also having an opening in its bottom wall through which said spaced apart terminal ends are directed, an elongated terminal box below said reflector pan secured to said terminal ends, a hinge bracket secured to said terminal box, and means pivotally securing said hinge bracket to the outer.

surface of said reflector pan so that said heating element and its ring support can be swung upwardly and downwardly with reference to said reflector pan, said terminal box moving up and down through the opening in said reflector pan when said heating element and ring ar swung upwardly and downwardly with reference to the pan.

. 4. An electric range comprising a top wall provided with an opening therein having a depressed seat for supporting a heating unit in said opening, a reflector having a peripheral down-turned flange constructed and arranged to be supported on said seat, and also having a depressed seat surrounded by said flange, a ring resting on said latter seat, a grid supported by said ring,

a plurality of interlocked sheathed heating elements attached to said grid and having spaced aligned down-turned terminal ends projecting through an opening provided for them in said reflector, an elongated plate attached to said down-turned ends below said reflector, and means pivotally connecting said plate to the outer surface of said reflector so that said heating element, grid and plate can be swung up and down with reference to said reflector, said plate moving up and down through said opening in said reflector when said heating elements, grid and plate are swung up and down with reference to it.

5. An electric heating unit for an electric range provided with an opening in its top wall for receiving the unit comprising a pair of interlocked. spiral heating elements having downturned aligned terminal ends, a grid supporting said heating elements, a ring attached to said grid, a reflector pan havinga seat formed there in for receiving said ring and a flange for engaging said top wall to support said heating ele-' ment within said opening, and also having an opening through which said terminal ends are directed, an elongated terminal box below said reflector pan secured to said terminal ends, a hinge bracket secured to said terminal box, means pivotally securing said hinge bracket to the outer surface of said reflector so that said heating elements and their supporting ring can be swung upwardly and downwardly with reference to said reflector, the opening in said reflector providing for the upward and downward movement of said terminal box, terminal contacts connected with the terminals of said heating elements supported by said terminal box, and flxed supply contacts adapted to be engaged by said terminal contacts when said ring is on said seat, and disengaged thereby when said ring is pivoted upwardly from said seat.

JOHN LEWIS ANDREWS. 

